Jewish American Security Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4576
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T14:57:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to strengthen federal efforts to counter antisemitism in the United States and protect the Jewish community through awareness, resources, and coordinated government actions.
Key Provisions
- Findings and Policy: The bill outlines extensive congressional findings on rising antisemitism, including statistics from the FBI and Anti-Defamation League, specific violent incidents, and references to prior executive orders and the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. It establishes a U.S. policy to raise public awareness of Jewish American history, the Holocaust, and antisemitism; provide opposition resources; and pursue whole-of-government and whole-of-society collaboration.
- Protecting Jewish Students (Section 4): Requires the Department of Education to offer annual trainings on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin) to schools receiving federal funds; conduct a public awareness campaign; issue annual written reminders on obligations; designate an Antisemitism Coordinator to oversee efforts, review complaints, and ensure compliance. Schools must designate Title VI coordinators, adopt nondiscrimination policies and grievance procedures, post policies online, provide annual notices, and maintain records. It also amends the Clery Act for better disaggregation of campus crime data and establishes a Title VI Clearinghouse for best practices.
- Securing Jewish Communities (Section 5): Increases funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion annually for fiscal years 2027–2031, raises administrative percentages, requires streamlined processes and sufficient personnel, prohibits certain limits on security personnel costs, and mandates annual reviews of allowable costs. Authorizes grants for state and local law enforcement to enhance security at houses of worship. Requires annual joint threat assessments on antisemitic domestic and transnational violent extremism by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center, with submissions to congressional committees and public declassified versions.
- Documenting Online Antisemitism (Section 6): Mandates large online platforms (those with at least 50 million monthly U.S. users) to submit and publish biannual transparency reports on content moderation for antisemitic material, including data on removals, accounts suspended, and algorithmic amplification. The Federal Trade Commission enforces these requirements as unfair or deceptive practices. Requires annual reports from the Secretary of Commerce on trends linking online content to offline violence, with recommendations. Includes a severability clause.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to expand and reform the Nonprofit Security Grant Program with higher funding and new operational requirements.
- Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Clery Act) to require bias-motivated crime data disaggregation and sharing with the Education Department’s Antisemitism Coordinator.
- Introduces new mandates on educational institutions and online platforms not previously required under Title VI or other statutes.
- Establishes ongoing annual threat assessment and reporting obligations extending up to 10 years.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and resources for the Departments of Education, Homeland Security, Justice, and Commerce, as well as the FBI and National Counterterrorism Center, including new positions, trainings, clearinghouses, and reporting.
- Citizens and Communities: Provides enhanced security funding and threat monitoring for Jewish institutions and students, while imposing compliance requirements on schools and platforms.
- International Relations: No direct provisions, though threat assessments may address foreign actor involvement in extremism.
- Online Platforms: Requires detailed public reporting on moderation practices, potentially affecting operations and content policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Jewish American communities and institutions (synagogues, schools, students).
- Educational institutions receiving federal funds (K-12 and higher education).
- Large online platforms and technology companies.
- Federal agencies (Education, Homeland Security, Justice, Commerce).
- State and local law enforcement agencies.
- Nonprofit organizations seeking security grants.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Builds on Title VI enforcement and prior executive orders by adding specific procedural requirements for addressing antisemitism as a form of discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.
- Expands appropriations and creates new federal reporting and coordination mechanisms.
- Includes enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and references to civil rights laws without altering core constitutional protections.
- Emphasizes nondiscriminatory administration of grants and prohibits eligibility conditions based on religious or political affiliation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Jewish American Security Act — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (43 pages)